Active Towns

In this, our 100th episode, I am delighted to welcome a very special guest, Clarence Eckerson, Director of Streetfilms, for a discussion about reaching the milestone of 1,000 plus videos promoting more walkable, bicycle-oriented, and transit-friendly communities from around the world. For obvious reasons, you may prefer to watch the video version of this episode, here's that link . Our landing pag...

In this episode, I reconnect with Arleigh Greenwald, Product Market Manager for Tern Bicycles and also known as Bike Shop Girl, for a conversation about how e-bikes and cargo bikes can provide pragmatic solutions to real problems and how to provide empathic support to those who are curious but are unsure what their next steps should be. Empowering Daily Life by Bike is Arleigh's mission for her co...

In this episode, I reconnect with Sarah Frey, Development and Marketing Director with the Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene & Marilyn Glick, for an in-depth conversation about the Trail and the impact it has had on the health and vitality of the city and its residents. Landing page on the Active Towns website for access to videos and photos of the trail In June 2021, I had the hono...

In this episode, I reconnect with Mike Lydon for an 18-month update from our last episode in the early days of the pandemic. We discuss some of the amazing street transformations underway around the globe, including in NYC with projects such as the Little Prince Plaza. And here's our landing page for this episode - for access to the videos and photos Pop-up protected bike lanes, separated cycle tr...

In this episode, I welcome back Victor Dover of South Miami's Dover, Kohl & Partners Town Planning for an in-depth discussion about why starting with the green parts, the parks, greenways, open spaces, wilderness, and even street trees when planning our communities is critical. We also talk about the importance of getting our streets designed right and how that can help more people feel more c...

In this episode, I speak with Michael Williams about Edge Lane Roads, also commonly referred to by some people as Bicycle Advisory Lanes - a name you'll soon learn Michael doesn't particularly prefer. The type of bicycle infrastructure is quite common in The Netherlands and in Denmark and, when done well in the proper context, can serve as a critical part of an "All Ages & Abilities" network....

In this episode, I had the honor of speaking with Ken Rose, Chief of the Physical Activity and Health Branch, within the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention about the Active People, Healthy Nation Initiative which was launched in early 2020. We also discuss some of the underlying challenges and barriers making physical activity d...

In this episode, I reconnect with Cara Seiderman, Transportation Program Manager with the City of Cambridge, Massachusetts, to get an update on the newly revised bike plan and discuss some of the exciting developments currently underway to create safe and inviting active mobility environments for all ages, abilities, and identities. Active Towns Landing Page for this Episode to access photos and v...

In this episode, I connect with Bianca Shulaker, Associate Director of National Programs at The Trust for Public Land, for a discussion about their Park Score Index, the 10-Minute Walk Campaign, and the exciting opportunity to leverage qualitative data to meet the needs of the community. The Trust for Public Land was founded in 1972 on the conviction that all people need and deserve access to natu...

In this episode, I connect with Jeff Bagg, the City Planner for Easthampton, MA, for a discussion about how this historic mill town is striving to connect people to meaningful destinations by leveraging its beloved Manhan Rail Trail while expanding its connectivity and reach through new infrastructure, creative installations, and traffic calming measures. Episode Landing page for access to more in...

In this episode, I reconnect with Charles Marohn, Founder of Strong Towns and author of the new book Confessions of a Recovering Engineer: Transportation for a Strong Town for a discussion about the compelling need to reform both our transportation systems and how those systems are planned and designed. Landing page for this episode Video version of the episode In 2010 Charles Marohn , Founder of...

In this episode, I connect with Ann Sussman, co-author along with Justin B Hollander, of the intriguing book Cognitive Architecture: Designing for How We Respond to the Built Environment for a discussion about how we can shape behavior in a positive by understanding a few key concepts related to our psychology, genetics, and how we evolved.  Landing page for this episode to access the visuals asso...

In this episode, I connect with Abby Kinney, a Kansas City-based Urban Designer with Gould Evans and the host of the Strong Towns Upzoned Podcast, for a conversation about KC, the unique structure of the podcast, and some critical new protected cycling infrastructure that has opened up the city for her and some many others. Active Towns Landing Page for this episode for access to more photos, vide...

In this episode, I connect with Doogie Roux, a micro-mobility consultant, brand ambassador, and bicycle advocate based in Houston, Texas for a discussion of a couple of truly innovative projects he's involved with that leverage electric assist bike technology to encourage more people to ride more often.   It's not an understatement to say that Houston is one of the most challenged cities in North...

In this episode, I connect with Dr. Jen Roberts, an Associate Professor at the University of Maryland, in the Department of Kinesiology, within the School of Public Health, for a detailed discussion about her work and study at the intersection of health and the built environment. Active Towns Landing page for this episode for additional photos and content Public health is and has been top of mind...

In this episode, I connect with cognitive neuroscientist Dr. Robin Mazumder, Ph. D., for a discussion about how we as humans respond to our built environments and how we make that experience pleasurable and equitable. Dr. Robin Mazumder, recently (October 2020) received his Ph. D. from the University of Waterloo in cognitive neuroscience studying the impacts of urban design on our health and wellb...

In this episode, I connect with Martina Haggerty, Director of Special Projects in the Planning Department for the City of Providence, Rhode Island, for a discussion about the status of the city's active mobility initiatives, including the completion of a major signature project the Van Leesten Memorial Bridge built upon the footings of the relocated Interstate 195. Active Towns Landing page for th...

In this episode, I connect with Ben Holland, Senior Associate at RMI (Rocky Mountain Institute), for a conversation about why we need fewer motor vehicles, not just electric vehicles, and the inherent fragility of car-centric cities. Active Towns Landing Page for this Episode (for additional photos and content) In order to combat climate change, we know that we must electrify the motor vehicle fle...

In this episode, I connect with Jason Slaughter the creator of the incredibly popular Not Just Bikes YouTube Channel. He shares what led him to become interested in urbanism and active mobility, how he and his family came to live in Amsterdam, and why he decided to launch the channel. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would that be? As you'll learn from this conversation, that's preci...

In this episode, we head down under, for a chat with Professor Paul Tranter, Honorary Associate Professor in Geography in the School of Science at the University of New South Wales Canberra in Australia , about why we all need to just slow down a bit. Paul researches children’s well-being and the dominance of speed and mobility in urban planning and society. His work has demonstrated that child-fr...

In this episode, I connect with documentary filmmaker Liz Canning for a candid conversation about MOTHERLOAD, a movie and a movement.   MOTHERLOAD captures a new mother’s quest to understand the increasing isolation and disconnection of modern life, its planetary impact, and how cargo bikes could be an antidote. Filmmaker Liz Canning cycled everywhere until she had twins in 2008. Motherhood was ch...

In this episode, I catch up with Melissa and Chris Bruntlett "on the eve" of the release of their much anticipated second book, Curbing Traffic - The Human Case for Fewer Cars in Our Lives. It's a long one, as they were gracious enough to provide a brief overview of each of the ten main chapters in the book. Enjoy! Curbing Traffic - The Human Case for Fewer Cars in Our Lives published by Island Pr...

In this extended episode, I have a detailed conversation with Bruce Appleyard , Associate Professor of City Planning & Public Administration, at San Diego State University and the author of  Livable Streets 2.0 published by Elsevier, a fabulous tribute to his late father, Donald Appleyard, and his classic urbanism text Livable Streets. A livable street is like a good friend that gives you ener...

In this episode, I connect with Jon Larsen, Salt Lake City, Utah's Transportation Division Director, for a conversation about how he and his team are making progress in their efforts to create safer, more inviting street spaces for "All Ages & Abilities" across all mobility modes. Salt Lake City's historic grid features massively wide streets and incredibly long blocks, but its origin isn't ro...

In this episode, I catch up with Ross Chapin, an Architect who literally wrote the book on Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small-Scale Community in a Large-Scale World and we discuss how when one steps into a pocket neighborhood, it seems familiar and feels comfortable. Perhaps this is because humans have been creating intentional habitats such as these for tens of thousands of years. They are inhe...